Mario Ancic

Ancic raises the bar

Ancic raises the bar
30 June 2004
By Boris Becker
BBC Sport expert at Wimbledon


Boris Becker The future of tennis has arrived - and his name is Mario Ancic.

This was an amazing performance by the young Croat - he never let Tim Henman into this match.

Ancic had 30 more horse-power than Tim in every department of his game - even the volley.

Henman came to the net after every serve and perhaps there was a need to mix it up a bit more.

Tim has shown us he does not just have one weapon - he proved that by getting to the semi-final of the Roland Garros.

In the Philippoussis match he had more time on the returns - in this match he seemed to get caught all the time.

It's so much easier from here in the commentary box, but at the end of the day he lost to a better player and he accepted defeat like a man.

Young Ancic is no surprise to tennis insiders.

This performance was predictable ever since he beat Federer two years ago. But he is, after all, a Croat - the same as Goran. He even speaks the same!

Henman will certainly remember Ancic's name for a long time. That was another dimension of tennis we've seen here today.

But I still think Tim has got what it takes to come back here and win Wimbledon.

Boris Becker was speaking to John Lloyd in the BBC commentary box.

 
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